MLB Rumors: Are the White Sox taking calls on Dylan Cease?
Dylan Cease isn't going anywhere.
Yes, the Chicago White Sox are open for business, selling at the MLB trade deadline with an eye towards competing in 2024. But, they view Cease as part of that competitive plan.
Cease is a former AL Cy Young candidate and AL All-Star. He's one of the best pitchers in the American League when he's healthy. It should also be noted that Cease has two arbitration years left on his contract. With the likes of Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Lance Lynn and more off the books, perhaps the front office can focus on extending Cease, rather than putting it off until this offseason.
MLB Trade Rumors outlined why Cease would be such an attractive trade commodity were he available.
"The 27-year-old Cease hasn't pitched as well in 2023 as he did in 2022. He's sporting a solid 4.04 ERA with an excellent 28% strikeout rate and a 9.6% walk rate through 113 2/3 frames so far this season. He's been particularly effective over his past nine starts, however, firing 51 innings of 3.00 ERA ball while punching out one-third of his opponents and recording an improved 8.5% walk rate. Cease is earning an affordable $5.7MM in his first season of arbitration eligibility and will be due a raise on that salary next season."
Cease's price tag, along with his ace potential, would make him the most valuable trade commodity in a relatively thin market were the White Sox to shop him. Instead, Chicago is doing the right thing while hoping to compete in 2024.
MLB Rumors: Angels had no choice with Shohei Ohtani
While the Angels took calls on Shohei Ohtani — as is their right given their current standing in the American League — they never really intended on trading him. Perry Minasian kept in contact with Ohtani, relaying that they were receiving calls but also insisting he wasn't on the market.
Even as a rental, Ohtani would have offered up a trade return the likes of which we've never seen. Some pundits compared it to the Nationals-Dodgers trade for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, except in this case Ohtani is only one player — he just happens to have the skills of both those All-Stars.
In the end, the Angels knew they couldn't receive fair value for Ohtani. So why not try to win with him on the roster? We now know that's what Ohtani prefers. He may still leave this offseason, but trading a generational talent is a move a losing team would make. Arte Moreno and Perry Minasian do not consider the Angels of that variety.
MLB Rumors: Which teams are interested in Eduardo Rodriguez?
The Detroit Tigers are one of many AL Central teams selling at the trade deadline. Heck, someone has to win that division, but it likely won't be the Tigers. Detroit is shopping two of their best pitchers in Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Lorenzen. Rodriguez should be more valuable because of his ace potential. Five teams are interested in his services, per Mark Feinsand.
E-Rod has three years and $49 million left on his contract, but he can opt out after this season to become a free agent, making him a rental of sorts.
Per Feinsand, the following teams have inquired about Rodriguez: the Rangers, Rays, Reds, Phillies and Diamondbacks are all interested. That should help drive up the asking price for the Tigers. Scott Harris, who was hired last offseason, is hoping to build up the farm system with young talent.
"He's not the best starter available, but he's been pretty good this year," a National League executive told Feinsand. "He would help a lot of rotations out there."
Rodriguez's health history is a concern for some around the league, but it could actually help in the long run. Any team that acquires Rodriguez may be getting him long term if he's unable to receive a larger deal elsewhere.
"I'm not opting out if I'm him," one American League executive told Feinsand.
Should the Tigers choose to pair, say, reliever Jason Foley with Rodriguez, they could likely acquire some top prospect capital.